Horacio Cartes
Who was Horacio Cartes?
Paraguayan businessman and politician who served as the 49th President of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Horacio Cartes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, born on July 5, 1956, in Asunción, Paraguay, became a leading businessman in the country before moving into politics. He built Grupo Cartes, a conglomerate with about 24 companies in industries like tobacco, soft drinks, meat production, and banking. His business skills made him one of Paraguay's wealthiest people, with a 2021 affidavit estimating his net worth at around $490 million, or ₲3.6 trillion. In 2023, Cartes left the conglomerate to take on a more direct role in Paraguayan politics.
Before Fame
Before entering politics, Cartes built a strong reputation in Paraguay's private sector with his Grupo Cartes conglomerate. He also got involved in football, acting as president of Club Libertad from 2001 to 2012 and taking a leadership role in the Paraguayan Football Association during the country's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. These positions raised his public profile and set the stage for his political goals within the Colorado Party.
Key Achievements
- Served as the 49th President of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018
- Built Grupo Cartes into a multi-industry conglomerate with approximately two dozen businesses, accumulating a net worth of around $490 million
- Became president of the Colorado Party in 2023, consolidating significant political influence over Paraguay's dominant political organization
- Received the Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (2017) and the Order of the Southern Cross (2017), among other national and international honors
- Oversaw Paraguay's football administration during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification as a leader within the Paraguayan Football Association
Did You Know?
- 01.Cartes served as president of Club Libertad football club for over a decade, from 2001 to 2012, and oversaw the Paraguayan national team's administration during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.
- 02.His political influence gave rise to a movement called Cartismo, which reshaped the internal direction of the Colorado Party and broader Paraguayan political dynamics.
- 03.In 2022 and 2023, the United States designated Cartes as 'significantly corrupt' and imposed economic sanctions, citing alleged involvement in transnational crime and connections to terrorist organizations.
- 04.Cartes received the Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry from Portugal in 2017, among several international honors including Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross in the same year.
- 05.Despite not having previously held elected office, Cartes won the 2013 presidential election as the Colorado Party candidate, ending a brief period of opposition rule in Paraguay.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry | 2017 | — |
| National Order of Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Southern Cross | 2017 | — |
| Order of Merit | — | — |